Out of the past 1/7/06

25 years ago: Jan. 7, 1981

A decision at last night's city council study session not to accept additional liquor-by-the-drink or package-liquor applications may put a crimp in plans for the Famous Barr department store here; the firm submits an application today for a liquor-by-the-drink license.

Cape Girardeau County has one of the eight highest real estate assessment rates in the state, according to a survey conducted by the Missouri Tax Commission; Cape Girardeau County real estate is being assessed at 24.5 percent of fair market value, according to the commission.

50 years ago: Jan. 7, 1956

Burglars enter the Hillcrest drive-in on Highway 61 north of Cape Girardeau, making off with $15 in cash, 2 1/2 barbecued hams, 15 pounds of hamburger, eight six-can cartons of beer and two boxes of cigars; three windows are broken out of the building before entry is made; proprietor of the drive-in is J.F. Boswell.

The SEMO District Fair Board announces this year's fair will be held Sept. 10 to 15; the first three nights of the fair will feature free entertainment in front of the grandstand, a departure from last year when admission to the grandstand was charged every night.

75 years ago: Jan. 7, 1931

The new county court met for the first time yesterday at Jackson; it is the first session for two of the judges, Nobert Sewing and Charles G. Wilson, and is the first at which Judge W.J. Kies of Cape Girardeau presided; previously, Kies served as associate judge from the second district.

At the usual chapel hour at the State Teachers College, Maj. Giboney Houck presents to the college a life-size portrait of his father, the late Louis Houck, who for nearly 40 years was a member of the school's board of regents, most of that time serving as president; the portrait, painted by St. Louis artist Max Gottschalk, will hang in the college library.

100 years ago: Jan. 7, 1906

H.A. Carpenter, acting president of Dexter Christian College, preaches in the morning and evening at the Sons of Veterans Hall, over the store of the Broadway Mercantile Co., where the congregation of the Christian church regularly meets.

The Rev. E.M. Hopkins of St. Vincent's Catholic Church leaves for New Orleans, where he goes in an attempt to regain his health; it is not known how long he will be absent.

-- Sharon K. Sanders